1 - Why Metatrader5?
1 - Why Metatrader5?
When deciding between MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) for backtesting and strategy automation, there are several key reasons why MT5 might be the superior choice, and therefore every algorithmic trader needs to consider those factors before starting this adventure.
In this blog, we will be highlighting the key advantages, and those are the main reasons why we at Trade't only implement metatrader 5 expert advisors.
The Key advantages are as follow:
Enhanced Backtesting Capabilities: MT5 offers a more powerful and sophisticated backtesting environment than MT4. It supports multi-threaded, multi-currency strategy testing, faster backtesting, and more detailed reporting on backtest results. This means you can run more complex simulations and analyze them in greater depth with MT5.
More Advanced Strategy Tester: MT5 includes a built-in Strategy Tester that is more advanced than MT4. It allows simultaneous multi-currency tests and allows historical data on different time frames and currencies to be accessed without pre-downloading them.
Economic Calendar Integration: Although it is sophisticated to include in the expert advisors, MT5 has an integrated economic calendar that provides news events directly on the chart, which is crucial for testing strategies that are sensitive to news or need to avoid trading during major news releases. This feature is absent in MT4.
Simulating slippages and commissions: The MT5 Strategy tester allows the simulation of slippages and can add specific commissions and swaps to your backtesting strategies.
Greater Programming Capabilities: MT5 uses the MQL5 programming language, which is more powerful and versatile than the MQL4 used by MT4. MQL5 is closer to the C++ language, offering features such as advanced debugging, profiling, and testing tools, as well as the ability to develop more complex and efficient expert advisors (EAs) and indicators.
64-bit Processing: MT5 is built for 64-bit systems, which allows it to handle more data and perform faster processing. This is particularly beneficial for backtesting strategies that require analyzing a large amount of data over extended periods.
Enhanced Graphical Tools: MT5 offers more advanced graphical tools, which can be beneficial for manual testing strategies or for a detailed analysis post-backtesting. These include more timeframes and chart types, which provide a broader and more granular view of market conditions.
Broader Market Access: While MT4 is predominantly focused on forex trading, MT5 provides access to a wider range of markets, including stocks, futures, and commodities. This is especially beneficial if your trading strategies stretch across different market types.